October 11 – Prophecy: Mocking God

I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. (Isaiah 50:6 ESV)

In about 700 B.C. Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be mocked, beaten, spit upon, and that his beard would be plucked out. In the early hours of his arrest—all the way until the moment of his final breath—he endured ridicule, scorn, brutality, and disrespect from Jews and Romans alike. The Spirit of God spoke through the prophet Isaiah concerning these things, and then experienced the actual event itself as the Son of God.

Have you ever mocked someone or bullied someone? I remember all-too-well what it was like to be on the receiving end of both. It can be horrible. Jesus received both in brutal fashion. As grounded as he was in his identity I can’t imagine the words having a very lasting affect on him, except that he must have felt compassion for the ignorance of those who were to unknowingly visit atrocities upon God Himself.

God will not be diminished by the verbal jabs of a blind mob. But our words can deeply affect others. If there is one part of my life that God has truly been working on in the last several months it is a push to be more encouraging and positive in my speech. Because after all, shouldn’t I treat others how I would treat Jesus?